The 13th and final destination on our Month of Christmas Markets. Known for its light displays, we decided to combine a Düsseldorf day visit and an evening in Essen.
Essen is an under-the-radar Christmas market destination for most international tourists, making it a great choice for visitors looking to get off the beaten path. Essen is less than 30 minutes from Düsseldorf or Dortmund by train, making it an easy day trip from either. It’s also easily accessible from the world-famous markets in Cologne. So it’s an easy day trip, and one you shouldn’t miss.
We loved the experience of walking through a stunning festive market without having to deal with the overwhelming crowds that some other more popular Christmas markets tend to come with, and still, you are a short train ride away from some of the biggest Christmas markets in Germany.
Essen’s main Christmas market is located in Kennedyplatz and wow… just wow! The center of the square is draped in this glittering canopy of Christmas lights, adding some serious drool-factor and pizazz to an already magical environment. The Main market was the highlight for us.
Beyond the main market, there some additional options to try out.